New probe into death of Stafford Hospital patient, 90
A new investigation has been launched into the death of a patient at Stafford Hospital as a painstaking police inquiry into hundreds of cases gathers pace, it was announced this afternoon.
Ivy Bunn, aged 90, died in November 2008 after falling three times over four days at the hospital. She was admitted to the hospital a week earlier after suffering a fall at her home.
Police today confirmed that the HSE would be investigating her death. In total, 209 cases were being looked at by investigators - and to date 36 have been examined by a joint team from Staffordshire Police and the HSE.
No further action will be taken in 34 cases as no additional information was uncovered that would warrant a criminal investigation.
The other case - the death of Gillian Astbury in 2007 - has already been investigated and taken to court by the HSE.
Peter Galsworthy, HSE Head of Operations in the West Midlands, said: "HSE concluded that two cases considered so far by this review warranted formal investigation relating to health and safety regulations. The first, the death of Gillian Astbury, has resulted in an HSE prosecution. The Trust pleaded guilty and sentencing will take place next year. As a result of the multi-agency review we have recently started an investigation into a second death, that of Ivy Bunn, in November 2008."
Police say inquiries into the remaining 173 deaths they are examining will take another six months to complete.
